Morning Fresh Farms in Platteville raises chickens in cages, and chickens free from cages. The chickens without wire walls receive certification from American Humane, a Denver nonprofit that has been promoting humane treatment of animals since 1907.

Tim Amlaw is director of American Humane’s Farm Animal Program.

DP: How many birds in the United States receive American Humane certification?

Amlaw: About 12 million. That’s not even 1 percent of the total number of birds laying eggs.

DP: How does certification work?

Amlaw: There are three tiers. The first tier is the audit. It takes a minimum of one day on-site. We are looking at 200 control points, observing the animals in the facilities, looking at what their procedures are, their feeding regimens, their veterinary plans. Tier two is online reporting. Tier three is full video monitoring.

DP: What are the key aspects of humane egg operations?

Amlaw: We know a bird likes a nest box. She likes privacy when she lays an egg. That’s a requirement. We know birds like to jump up and perch, which is a behavioral response to perceived threats. Birds like to clean themselves. (They) use dust bathing. We say dust bathing is required.

DP: What are some of the biggest hurdles this movement faces?

Amlaw: What I see with most producers, they say, “Wait a minute. I don’t know if when I make all of these investments in nest boxes and perches that people will pay for my product.” That is the dilemma. It’s that balancing that is so difficult.